Improvement in check-hooks



W. J. OWEN. Check-Hooks.

Patented May 6, I379.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. OWEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHECK-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,020, dated May 6,1879 application filed February 26, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER J. OWEN, of

Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Check-Hooks; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable-others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification. My invention relates toharness, and especially to check-hooks therefor; and it consists in astationary tongue and a spring-actuated crown-piece, combined andoperating substantially as will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my device as closed, andFig. 2 a view of the same opened.

A is a stationary pin, standard, or post suitably attached to the saddleof the harness. Hinged or in any manner movably attached to the post Ais the crown-piece B, having a downward-projecting portion, B, whichimpinges against the tongue A. The projection B, however, may be omittedwithout a departure from my invention, and in this case the tongue Ashould be made long enough to impinge against the body of thecrown-piece B.

Any spring arrangement may be employed the operation of which shall beto retain the tongue A and crown-piece B in the position shown in Fig.1of the drawings, thus securely preventing any liability of the escape ofthe check-rein.

In order to insert the check-rein, the crownpiece B is drawn back in themanner indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the rein looped over thetongue A.

Upon releasing the crown-piece B it will be sprung to the position shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings, and be thus retained, safely securing thecheck-rein.

I am aware that the crown-piece B has been made stationary, and thetongue A yielding. I have obviated an objection to this form of deviceby my present construction, said objection being, first, the liabilityof accidental displacement of a yielding tongue; second, a

'weakness of said tongue on account of its jointed connection with theharness.

I do not limit myself to any specified design or material in theconstruction of my device, as my invention comprehends broadly and onlya stationary tongue, A, and a springactuated crown-piece, B, as alreadyspecified.

What I claim is- The combination of the rigid tongue A andspring-actuated crown-piece B, constructed, combined, and adapted tooperate substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER J. OWEN.

Witnesses JNo. ORowELL, Jr., W. E. DONNELLY.

